Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 5

Verse 1

Go, Jeremias, and you who publicly adhere to me. --- Man. Sodom would have been spared for the sake of ten just people, Genesis xviii. 32. Before the reform of Josias, Jerusalem was strangely corrupted, though these expressions be hyperbolical, and spoken as it were in the heat of debate. Josias, Holda, and others, were living at this time, and renowned for their piety.

Verse 2

Falsely. Some may confess my name. But they swear falsely, chap. iv. 2. (Calmet) --- Unless the requisite conditions be observed, an oath is unlawful. (Worthington)

Verse 3

Return. The miseries with which, Achaz, &c., were afflicted, produced no amendment.

Verse 4

Foolish idiots, (Calmet) who have had no means of receiving instruction. (Haydock) --- Such might be more excusable; but when the chiefs offend, the evil is irremediable.

Verse 6

Lion. Nabuchodonosor. --- Wolf. Cambyses, (Calmet) and leopard. Epiphanes. (Haydock) --- The Chaldeans, Persians and Greeks afflicted them. (St. Jerome) --- The first beast may designate Nabuc: the second Nabuzardon: the third, Alexander [the Great?] or Epiphanes. (Worthington)

Verse 7

How can. I have only the character of judge left. (Calmet)

Verse 8

Stallions. Hebrew mashcim, (Haydock) "stretching out," as others translate, Ezechiel xxiii. 20. (St. Jerome) --- The horse is the most intemperate of all animals but man. (Aristotle, Hist. vi. 22.)

Verse 10

Destroy, at the first taking of the city, ver. 18., and chap. iv. 27. --- Branches. Children of Jechonias, (chap. xxii. 30.) and the people. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "her battlements," (Haydock) Chaldean, "palaces."

Verse 13

Them. The evil shall fall on the head of these impostors. So the wicked deride the prophets (Calmet) impugning the known truth. (Haydock)

Verse 14

Fire. Thou shalt declare their impending ruin.

Verse 15

Ancient. Nemrod founded the empire of Ninive and of Babylon, Genesis x. 10. Nabopolassar had succeeded to the ancient Assyrian and Chaldean sovereigns. Under his son, Nabuchodonosor, the dominions were much enlarged. --- Say. 4 Kings xviii. 26.

Verse 17

Devour. Hebrew, "destroy." They did not eat human flesh.

Verse 19

Own. You shall thus know the difference between the masters. (Calmet)

Verse 21

Understanding. Literally, "heart," chap. iv. 22. (Haydock)

Verse 22

It. Nature and chance are improper terms. God regulates all, and has established those laws which preserve the world.

Verse 24

Rain, in autumn and in spring, Deuteronomy xi. 14. (Calmet) --- Fulness. Hebrew, "the weeks for harvest." (Haydock) --- That of barley began at the Passover, and that of wheat ended before the feast of weeks, (Exodus xxxiv. 22., and Leviticus xxiii. 10.; Calmet) or Pentecost. (Haydock)

Verse 25

Away. The rain comes unseasonably.

Verse 26

Man. As some tyrants have done, though this implies (Calmet) the eagerness with which the wicked strive to corrupt mankind. (Haydock)

Verse 28

Of the widow, is not in Hebrew. (Calmet) --- Fatherless. Protestants add, "yet they prosper, and they," &c. (Haydock)

Verse 29

Nation? It is contrary to God’s justice not to punish the guilty. (Worthington)

Verse 31

CHAPTER V.

Clapped. Hebrew, "came down to, or received in, or domineered by their hands." The priests concurred with these impostors for their own ends. (Calmet)